Acting globally, thinking locally: Xi scores political points at home from wins on world stage
President uses major gathering of global leaders to strengthen his domestic position ahead of next year’s crucial Communist Party congress
Never before has a Chinese leader held so much of the international limelight as President Xi Jinping did in chairing the Group of 20 (G20) summit of leaders.
Hosting the gathering of the world’s wealthiest nations in Hangzhou gave Xi a unique opportunity to project his personal image on the world stage as well as strengthen his position within the Communist Party ahead of a crucial congress to be held a year from now.
Watch: Xi makes closing speech
Analysts said Xi scored points politically at home and diplomatically abroad by chairing the most important gathering of world leaders in the country’s history.
They said Xi also succeeded in using the event to showcase China’s soft power, to expand its international influence.
“Xi is apparently making the best use of the summit to ... advance diplomatic ties with friendly nations such as Russia while also containing tensions and fallout with countries such as the US, South Korea and Southeast Asian nations,” said Hongyi Lai, a professor of contemporary Chinese studies at the University of Nottingham in Britain.
I would summarise Xi’s performance at the summit as [showing] confidence, leadership, and inclusive diplomacy
